Olivia's POV
Before Nick and Charlie even reach Anya's car, the squeal of sirens pierces my ears. Moments later, a police car screeches to a stop and officers Wright and Davis jump out. They need only a handful of seconds to assess the situation before they rush to me. As they cuff Anya, I'm finally able to get off her, but because of my injured foot, I manage only a step to the side before my leg gives in. Like a child throwing a tantrum, I plump onto the cold asphalt, not bothering to catch myself.
By then Nick and Charlie also return. While Nick uses one hand to support his limping brother, he has a dash cameraâthe one I had seen installed in Anya's carâsecurely tucked in his other hand.
"That's not yours." Anya struggles to free herself, but she's not strong enough. All she does is force officer Davis to tighten his hold.
Once Nick hands the camera to his father, both officers head toward the car. I don't allow my gaze to wander until I see for myself how the officers ensure that Anya is securely locked inside the back of the police car. Then I finally let out a long breath.
It's over.
A strong arm slips around my shoulders, so I look to my side and find Samuel crouching beside me. The smile radiating off his lips tells me he's thinking the same thing I am. We finally did it. We found the driver from the hit-and-run I was involved in, and we finally had her arrested.
"You coming, Liv?" Nick jogs to my side while eyeing the Head Guardian, who has been wordlessly watching the arrest.
Instead of letting Nick help me up, I glance at the red-haired woman as well. Eliza and Lucien are already standing on either side of her; silently waiting for what we know is about to follow.
"You go ahead." I turn back to Nick and smile up at him. "I have to take care of something first."
Nick opens his mouth to protest, but once again Charlie stops him. "Nick," he calls out while leaning down to grab the crutches I used to stop Anya. "Let's give Olivia and... her friend a moment."
Nick, however, continues to keep his hand extended toward me. "You're sure you don't need my help?"
"I'm sure. Thank you, Nick. For everything."
Nick purses his lips but slowly stands up. He turns around and takes his first step away when he suddenly spins back to me. "How did you know about the dash camera?"
"Not right now." I ignore the way Samuel tightens his arm around my shoulders and continue to smile up at Nick. "I'll tell you after this is done."
Nick hesitates for another moment and then follows Charlie to the police car parked in the middle of the road twenty-five yards away from where I'm sitting.
Only once all the humans are far enough I grit my teeth and with Samuel's help climb onto my feet. While my entire body feels like I've been through an all-day military training, I don't want to face the Head Guardian while sitting on the ground. Not when I know what is about to follow.
With Samuel's arm now wrapped around my lower back, I turn my back to the humans to ensure none of them will be able to see my face.
"I cannot believe this." The Head Guardian clicks her way around Samuel and me. She stops a couple of steps in front of us, while Lucien stops beside Samuel and Eliza beside me. "Lucien Clarke, you managed to get your own charge incriminated without once revealing our existence. I would not believe it if I had not seen it with my own eyes."
Lucien inclines his upper body in a theatrical bow, which the Head Guardian rolls her eyes at. The red-haired woman then raises her hands and presses her fingers against her temples, as if to ward off an oncoming headache.
"I cannot believe I am about to say this," she lets out a loud sigh, "but here it is. Samuel Yang, it is time. You have successfully finished your punishment."
"What?" Samuel, Eliza, Lucien, and I ask at the same time.
Since the moment the Head Guardian appeared I was sure that this time Samuel and I won't be able to convince her not to prolong Samuel's punishment. Yet here she is telling us the exact opposite. How is this possible?
"All of you are too young to know it, but the severity of one's crime as a human is not the only factor that determines the length of a Guardian's punishment. The main point of your existence as Guardians is to find the souls you have wronged and apologize to them."
"So this means..." Samuel says.
"It means you could have finished your punishment when you apologized to that human boy, yes." The Head Guardian nods. "I kept you around a little longer to give Lucien a chance to apologize to you as well."
"Does this mean I'm done as well?" Lucien gapes at the Head Guardian.
"No. You still have many things to remember and many apologies to make. Samuel is nothing but the tip of your iceberg."
"What were you? A serial killer?" Eliza leans forward to look past Samuel and me.
"Does this mean..." I ignore everyone and focus on Samuel. "Does this mean you're leaving?"
Samuel turns to me but doesn't respond. He doesn't have to. The shock and the pain written in his eyes tell me everything I need to know.
"While it is not usual, I will give you a moment to say your goodbyes," the Head Guardian says. "But do not waste your energy in trying to run. I will find you no matter what." She then turns her back to us and walks far enough to ensure she won't be able to hear us.
"Well, I guess this is it." Lucien awkwardly bumps his shoulder against Samuel's and then takes a step back. "Thank you for giving me the chance to apologize and... And I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."
Before any of us can respond, he closes his eyes and disappears, leaving only Samuel, Eliza, and me behind.
"I guess it's my turn now." Eliza steps forward, with her hands deep in her pockets. "I'm used to saying goodbye to my charges, but I've never said goodbye to a fellow Guardian."
"Thank you, Eliza. For everything you've done for Olivia and me." Samuel extends his hand and after a second Eliza shakes it. "Maybe our paths will one day cross again."
"I hope not." Eliza snorts. "But if it helps you to think that way, then go ahead."
She takes a step back but then moves her eyes to me. The silent look she shoots me finally reminds me of what the Head Guardian has been promising is waiting for meâher erasing both my ability to see Guardians and my memories of them.
"Please, watch over Mom." I fight the way my throat begins to tighten. "And... And promise to occasionally pluck the petals off the bouquet on the kitchen table."
"As long as I get to destroy the flowers, sure thing." With one last wink, Eliza vanishes, leaving only Samuel and me behind.
Before I can turn to him, Samuel pulls me into the tightest hug possible, and without a second of hesitation, I wrap my own arms around him.
"I don't want to say goodbye," I say.
"We don't have to. But no matter what happens I want to you know that I love you, Olivia Han. I wanted to tell you this before I leave."
"I love you too, Samuel Yang." I rise up to my toes, while he leans down, and we meet in the middle.
The kiss is filled with tears I didn't notice are running down my cheeks. It is a bitter-sweet kiss, but one that I promise myself never to forget.
Our last kiss.
"We'll see each other again," Samuel says as we part. "Our reincarnations will meet one day, and then we'll finally be together."
"But we won't remember any of this." I shake my head and allow the tears to keep falling.
"And yet I'm sure I'll be as deeply in love with you as I'm right now." Samuel wipes the tears off my cheeks and then takes a step away from me.
"It's time." The Head Guardian returns.
I want to scream out for Samuel not to go. To beg the Head Guardian not to take him away from me. Yet I swallow the urge and count to three.
One.
Two.
Three.
I wobble a step back and look into the eyes of the guy I love. Then I smile. No matter what, I want his last memory of me to be with a smile on my face.
"Olivia."
His whisper is the last thing I hear before he disappears, leaving nothing but a soft breeze. More than anything I want to break down and cry my heart out. Instead, I force myself to face the Head Guardian. No matter how much it hurts, I know it's not over yet.
"It is time to free you of your connection to Guardians." The Head Guardian raises her hand, but before she can do anything else, I take a step forward.
"Wait." While my brain is trying to solve the riddle of what I'm trying to do, my heart already knows the answer. "Can you take my ability to see Guardians, but leave my memories intact?"
"Why?"
"Because I want to remember."
"Remembering Samuel will cause you nothing but pain."
"It might be pain now, but with time it will turn into cherished and happy memories. And it's not just Samuel. It's Eliza. It's Lucien. It's everything. I want to remember what they taught me."
"You are just like her." For the first time, the Head Guardian's lips quiver into what can be called a smile. "You want to keep your memories no matter what. Then time changes you into an old lady who shares her wisdom with humans you know are just like you. The souls accidentally able to see us."
I force myself to keep my mouth shut and instead wait for her answer. Seconds tick by, causing my fear of rejection to grow.
With a sigh, the Head Guardian lowers her hand. "So be it, Olivia Han. From this day forward you will no longer be able to see Guardians, but you will keep your memories."
"Thank you," I whisper and close my eyes.
I hear the snap of her fingers and then a gust of wind blows against me. I continue to keep my eyes closed, though, and allow the tears to soak my cheeks.
The pain of his departure is still there, but so is the smile that sneaks onto my lips. After all, the pain can only mean one thing.
I will always remember.
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- E